With the sun beating down, Civil Service took on a strong Hinton Reserves side including several first team players at Hereford Academy. With both teams starting strongly and creating chances it was Hinton Reserves who started to get on top and eventually took the lead. Although Service created the chances to be level, Hinton’s superior fitness allowed them to dominate the latter stages of the first half and were only kept at bay by some superb Dan Gay goalkeeping.

After a much needed break, Service started brightly and caused Hinton several problems before eventually Jamie Jones steered the ball into the bottom corner from a cross by Sheriff. Shortly after Calder Jnr had an excellent chance at the back post but just couldn’t quite convert it.

Once again Service’s lack of fitness was hindering them and despite a raft of substitutions, Hinton re-took the lead through a very dubious penalty. In the dying minutes they sealed the game with a further goal and on the balance of things probably deserved the win but it was a committed Service performance and very positive for the season ahead.

Team: Gay, Fisher, T.Calder, Jackson, Ridley, Judd, Jelfs, Nottingham, R.Calder, Jones (1), Chapman

Subs: R.Hagan, Morris, Sadler